來源： 廖悅悅《如何進(jìn)行法律研究》
From：How to Do a Legal Research, written by Yueyue Liao
法律研究是律師的基本功，是律師日常工作中躲不掉的一關(guān)，在此提供一些基本思路和方法.
Legal research is the basic skill of a lawyer, which is unescapable process in a lawyer's routine works. Here are some basic idears and methods.
首先，理解所研究的法律問題
First, understand the legal issue that you are studying
（一）主動(dòng)詢問背景信息和確認(rèn)問題的細(xì)節(jié)
One.?
Actively, ask for the background ?information and confirm the details of the problem
接受問題的律師在沒有明確問題或者不懂得背景的時(shí)候，應(yīng)該主動(dòng)地詢問。即使是因?yàn)榻淮鷨栴}的律師很忙，無法給你詳細(xì)的解釋，他可能也會(huì)在你提問后給你一個(gè)方向，或者告知你可以參考的材料，以便自學(xué)。
When the lawyer hasn't confirmed the problem or doesn't know the background when he/she confronts the problem, lawyer should do the inquiry actively. Even if the superior lawyer is busy and there is no time for detailed explanation to you, the superior lawyer may probably gives you a direction after you inquiry, or he/she may tell you some references and materials so that you can learn by yourself.
（1）復(fù)述所需要研究的問題以確認(rèn)是否正確；
Retail the target problem that needed to be studied, confirm whether it is correct;
（2）詢問項(xiàng)目的大致進(jìn)展；
Ask about the general progress of the program;
（3）索取基本的文件和資料作為參考；
Seek for basic document and materials for reference;
（4）在不太困難的情況下作問題的假設(shè)以確認(rèn)研究的范圍；
Hypothesis for the problem to confirm the range to study, if the situation is not too difficult;
（5）詢問是否需要同時(shí)研究相關(guān)的問題
Ask whether there is relevant problems needed to be studied at the same time.
（二）明確核心問題
Two.
Identify your core problem (essential question)
要對關(guān)鍵問題做一個(gè)定義很困難，筆者的理解是，關(guān)鍵問題的研究結(jié)果，通常能夠決定一個(gè)法律問題是否還需要進(jìn)一步研究，進(jìn)一步研究的方向是什么，以及最終研究的結(jié)果是否切中要害。就好像走在迷宮中，只有在一個(gè)分岔路口找對了方向，才能最終找到出口。
It is very difficult to define "core problem". To my understanding, the research result of the core problem, it is generally able to decide whether a legal problem needs further research, or the direction for next step of the research, and moreover, whether the final research result can kick the key point. Just like walking through the labyrinth, only when you find the correct direction at a certain diverge way, you are able to find the way out at last.
（三）全面地看問題
Look at the problem from all angles
我們在法學(xué)院讀書時(shí)，是把法律隔開來讀的，在現(xiàn)實(shí)生活中，同一個(gè)法律問題可能受制于不同領(lǐng)域的法律，律師需要考慮在那個(gè)領(lǐng)域法律下的答復(fù)。以“一個(gè)外國房地產(chǎn)基金可否按份發(fā)給一個(gè)中國境內(nèi)的自然人”這個(gè)問題為例，我們首先需要了解基金發(fā)行發(fā)行的整個(gè)過程，把圖畫出來，看每一步涉及什么法律，這樣才能找到法律的節(jié)點(diǎn)。
When we at law schools, we usually study laws separately. In real life, one legal problem may be restrained by different ranges of laws, so lawyer need to consider: to response in which area of law. For example, in the question of "Can foreign real estate fund be distributed to a person in China by shares?", we need to know the whole operation progress of a fund, draw the outline, to see what laws may be involved, which we can find the connection of laws.
Q：那么，如何在有限的時(shí)間內(nèi)，得到一個(gè)比較滿意的答案？
Q: Then, how to gain a satisfying answer in the limited time?
A:筆者認(rèn)為，一方面，可以先在網(wǎng)上搜索一下相關(guān)的論文或案例，了解問題的宏觀背景，研究有哪幾類規(guī)定，即先研究“大法”。另一方面，研究的“深度”則是根據(jù)客戶的要求和案件的安排來確定的，需要和交代法律問題的律師進(jìn)行溝通。要切中要害，就要盡早確認(rèn)：客戶的關(guān)注點(diǎn)是什么。
A: To my understanding, on the one hand, you can search for relevant essays and cases on the Internet, so that ?you can know the macro-background, find out how may types of regulations, which means study "Grand laws" first. On the other hand, the depth of your research is rely on your client's request and the arrangement of the case, and you need to discuss with your senior lawyer. To kick the key point, you have to make sure as early as possible: what is your client focusing on.
